Retail Team | November 9, 2023
One of the world’s most collectible wines hails from a steep, windblown hill in coastal Tuscany that was long regarded as too rugged a place for grape-growing.
Masseto is the name of that hill, and of the legendary single-vineyard Merlot cuvée that is cultivated there by Tenuta dell’Ornellaia. Drawing its massive density and opulence from the hard blue clay clusters beneath the vineyard’s surface, it is a wine closest in nature to the mightiest clarets of Bordeaux, often called “The Pétrus of Italy.” Critic James Suckling once heralded it “the most collectible wine of Tuscany.”
No format commands as much attention and envy as the six-liter bottlings of this Super Tuscan icon – an expression of Masseto at its most age-worthy. Today, Sotheby’s Wine is proud to share a highly allocated selection of these Italian fine wine rarities, available with special limited-time offers.
The pedigree of the 6.6-hectare Masseto vineyard was uncovered by none other than Russian enologist André Tchelistcheff, who divined – against all conventional wisdom – that the site was ideal for Merlot production. Raked by cool breezes from the Tyrrhenian Sea, the grapes absorb their considerable tannic structure from clay soils while sandy, pebbly parcels of the hill help balance the wine. From its first release in 1984, the cuvée was a classic, and insatiable demand has followed from countless accolades and 100-point scores over the years.
The polished 2014 stands out for its beautiful integration, refined and even light on its feet. Sunny, dry conditions in 2017 produced a tour-de-force release, stunningly luscious and intense. The 2018 is deft, precise, and silky while the 2019 – the first to include Cabernet Franc and to be made entirely at the new winery facility – marks a new chapter of brilliance for this Tuscan titan.
This offer is valid until 30 November 2023. While stocks last. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers and excludes previous purchases. Taxes and fees will be charged where applicable. Offer may change without notice. Other conditions may apply.
